Constable Robert Plunkett, 43, organized events at Special Olympics; Manslaughter charge in officer’s death
By Betsy Powell, Toronto Star and The Canadian Press
MARKHAM, Ontario — A pre-dawn police probe into air bag thefts turned tragic today when a veteran York Region officer died after being dragged by a car, pinned to a tree, and then thrown from the vehicle while attempting an arrest, police said.
Constable Robert Plunkett, 43, hailed as “true hero” by his police chief, was the force’s first officer to die in the line of duty since 1984.
A 19-year-old man faces a manslaughter charge in the death of the Markham officer and police said additional charges are pending.
Plunkett’s death came as a heavy blow to a force not accustomed to loss, said deputy Chief Bruce Herridge.
“It’s an organization where we’ve not lost many officers, but even one is one too many,” said Herridge, adding that Plunkett was well-known within the force.
The tragic confluence of events that sent Plunkett to hospital with fatal injuries were outlined this afternoon by York police Chief Armand La Barge.
Just after 5 a.m., Plunkett moved toward the open driver’s side door of a gold-coloured Honda intending to make an arrest, said La Barge.
“As Const. Plunkett attempted to arrest the suspect, the suspect put the vehicle into reverse, and accelerated over a curb, across a lawn and over several shrubs,” he said.
Plunkett was then pinned between the open door and a tree as the suspect kept trying to drive away. The officer was then dragged onto a nearby lawn and thrown from the car.
“The suspect continued to reverse across the lawn at which time assisting officers rammed the vehicle to stop its progress,” said La Barge.
Nadeem Jiwah, 19, has been charged with manslaughter. A second suspect, 23-year-old Baseer Yousafzai, was also arrested and is facing various charges of theft and mischief.
The men were scheduled to make a court appearance in Newmarket later this afternoon.
In a statement released through police, Plunkett’s family appealed to the media to “respect their privacy as they grieve.”
Plunkett was the chair of the Ontario Special Olympics in 2000 when his department organized five events - floor hockey, five and 10-pin bowling, swimming and powerlifting - for mentally handicapped athletes.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is not involved in the investigation.
Today’s death marked the first killing of a police officer in York Region since 1984, when two officers died in the line of duty within weeks.
Const. William Grant was killed instantly on Oct. 9, 1984, when his vehicle was intentionally rammed head-on by the car he was chasing.
On Aug. 21, 1984, Const. Douglas Tribbling was shot in the chest while responding to a burglar alarm. He died later in hospital.
Police said all flags at stations in the Toronto area are being lowered to half mast and will remain there until Plunkett’s funeral.
Copyright 2007 The Toronto Star